Britain's Foreign Secretary has brushed aside an Israeli minister's allegation that anti-Israeli sentiment was growing in the United Kingdom - by agreeing with him.

William Hague's comments come after Yuval Steinitz, a close confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said perceptions of Israel were more negative in Britain than in other countries.

"Traditionally we had good relations with Britain and currently we have good intelligence cooperation with Britain and it's very successful," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"(But) we are concerned about the relations, about what we see as some animosities and some incitement in Britain, in the media, made by NGOs (non-governmental organisations) against Israel.

"I hope we will be able to use (Mr Hague's) visit to improve relations."

Mr Hague, though, was unrepentant.

He said: "Israel has lost some of its support in Britain and in other European countries over time - this is something I've often pointed out to Israeli leaders - because of settlement activity, which we condemn.

"We strongly disagree with settlements on occupied land. Israel is a country we work with in many ways but we do disapprove of settlements.

"We want to see both Israelis and Palestinians really commit themselves to the peace process while there is still a chance of a two-state solution."

Image:Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

In an interview with Sky News, Mr Hague warned the window of opportunity for Israel and the Palestinians to agree to form a two-state solution was closing fast.

Failure to do so, he said, would mean Israel struggles to maintain the two characteristics it holds dearest - that it remains both a Jewish state and a democracy.

John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, was also in Israel as part of his country's drive to get the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

The Israeli Prime Minister and his supporters on the right have insisted they do not believe the Palestinians are sincere about peace.

They point to the continuing Palestinian insistence on the implementation of the "Right of Return", in which refugees from the 1948 and 1967 conflicts with Israel and their descendants are granted the 'right' to return to the homes they fled, as a signal that the Jewish state remains anathema to the Palestinians.

Ethnic Arabs would outnumber Jews in Israel if the 'right' enshrined by UN resolution 194 was implemented.

Israelis who are sceptical of a lasting peace with their Palestinian neighbours also note with horror the events unfolding in Syria - and that while Palestinian politicians often tell the West of their willingness to accept Israel, they frequently condemn the right of the Jewish State to exist when addressing Arab audiences.

Image:A Jewish settlement near Jerusalem

Mr Hague said this was an issue that could only be resolved at negotiations, which the Palestinians have refused to attend until the Netanyahu government freezes the construction of settlements.

Mr Netanyahu insisted that "above all, what we want to do is restart the peace talks with the Palestinians".

He told Mr Kerry: "You've been working on it a great deal, we've been working on it together.

As the leader of a right wing coalition government packed with ministers who either believe there is no chance of a two-state solution or that Israel should not give up the West Bank, there was little sign of any will to find a way.

Mr Hague also visited a Bedouin community, Khan al Ahmar, on the West Bank, which is under threat of forced removal and demolition to make way for expanding Jewish settlements on land occupied by Israel in 1967.

"We (in Britain) strongly condemn the building of settlements and recognise they are a severe threat to a two-state solution,” he told village elders.